Metal-table construction



July 15, 1930. P. M. WEGE METAL TABLE CONSTRUCTIQN Filed Dec. 27 1926 2Sheets-Sheet l fil/czli A July 15, 1930.

P. M. WEGE 1,770,500

METAL TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InmmforPafzr VIM/Egg Patented July, 15,1930

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE PETER M. WEGE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR TO METAL OFFICE FURNI- TURE COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN METAL-TABLE CON STBUCTION Application filedDecember '27, 1920. Serial No. 157,075.

This invention relates to a table made of sheet metal and equipped witha linoleum upper surface or top. It is an object and purpose of thepresent invention to construct a table which is made wholly of sheetmetal,

except for the linoleum upper wearing surface, and in which the linoleumis attached to a sheet metal support by means of sheet metal borderbands serving to retain it in place. A further object and purpose of theinvention and one which is of primary significance is to construct thetable of parts which may be very quickly and easily assembled ordisassembled, this making it possible to ship the construction in itsknock-down form wherein it occupies relatively little space, and whichmay be assembled when its destination is reached in a very simplemanner, the only tools required being a screw driver, and there being noparticular skill required of the one making the assembly. Many otherobjects and purposes than those stated will be apparent as understandingof the invention is had from-the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings,

in which, a

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrative of the table framestructure, one supporting leg of which is shown'located in '30 place andthe other shown disconnected.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section at one corner of the table onthe plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 3, and looking upward in the directionindicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinalvertical sectionthrough the tablenear the front side thereof and tion.-

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. horizontal section ward saidend ofthe table,'a'n d I; 1 I, n

a Fig. 6 is afragmentary horizontal section- .on the planejof line 66'of"Fi 0km downwardly as indicated by "the arrows. .1 Like referencecharacters refer to like parts Q in the different figures of thedrawings.- ,l

looking-in a forward dir'je'c- In the construction of the table arectangu lar supportingframe over which the top is placed, is provided,including a rear side member and end members which are of the sameformation, each being made from a single plate of sheet metal, formedwith a vertical lip l at its upper edge which is then bent inwardly fora short distance to make a horizontal ledge 2, thence again extendeddownwardly, as indicated at 3, in a plane parallel with the lip 1. Fromthe lower edge of the section 3 a flange 4 is turned horizontally. Ifthe table is not to have drawers the front side of the frame will be aduplicateofthe rear side. It is many times desirable however, toconstruct the table so that drawers may be mounted under the top anddrawn outwardly at the front side. 'In such case, instead of using afront side similar to the rear side including the sections 1, 2, 3 and4, as described, a front is provided including a. lower channel having avertical web 6 and upper and lower flanges 7 which lie horizontally andextend rearwardly, the flange 8 being considerably wider than the flange7 and lying in the samehorizontal plane with the flanges 4 of the rearside and end members, previously described. Above the channel an angleis located having a vertical leg 9 in the same plane with the verticalweb 6 of the channel and a'horizontal' leg 10 turned rearwardly from thelower edge of the leg 9. At the ends of the angle and channel, spacingmembers of sheet metal are provided in the form of short angles havingtwo' legs 11 and 12 atright angles to each ather, fromone of whichtheleg 11 as shownv finthe"drawing," horizontal ends 13 are bent. '{Theupper end '13 lies underneath the leg 10 :whilefthe lower end- 13 liesabove the upper flange/Z. Aperlnanent structure isv made by spot-weldingor otherwise suitably securing egendsl3xto said le and flange. Thesesides and ends of the. table frame are connected .at their. :cjorner sby metal brackets, each com- ;.,prising" twofar'ms [5- located at a;right angle to E-eachotherm; The arms lie ;.-against 1 the innerfi'eidesjIof-the lips li'andover' the ledges 2 and j against the'vertical-leg 90f the upper angle r at the front of the table frame, asbest shown in Fig. 1. A. permanent connection is made 1 in any suitablemanner preferably by spot welding. In addition when the table isassembled the corners are strengthened and reinforced by gusset plates14 which are disposed to lie over the horizontal flanges 4 and 8 and arepermanently secured in place when the legs of the table, as will appearlater, are connected in place.

It is evident that drawers may be slidably placed in this frame enteringbetween the orizontal leg 10 and the upper horizontal flange 7 of thetwo members at the front of the table frame. used but in practice thespace in the length of the frame is divided into any desired number ofcompartments by means of vertical partitions 16 (see Fig. 3). Apartition16 at its upper edge is welded to the vertical leg 17 of a horizontalangle member which is completed by an upper horizontal leg 18 and ends19 bent from oneof the legs so as to lie against the inner side of theleg 9, previously described, and also at its rear and against the innerside of the lip 1 of the rear side of the frame. The manner of attachingthis horizontal angle member will be later described. At its lower d ethe partition 16 is bent at' right angles, as in icated at 16, to restupon the flange 8 and at either side two angles are permanentlyattached, having upper horizontal legs 20 and 2O while the vertical legs21 and 21 lie against'the partition 16 and are permanently securedthereto by spot welding. Near the ends of the table horizontal channels22 secured to the plates 14, are disposed and on the up r flangesthereof and on the flanges 20 an 20 drawers may be slidably mounted. Thelegs are formed of sheet metal preferabl in one piece, bent intorectangular form and having four sides 23, 24, 25 and 26. Two of thesides, 25 and 26 as shown, extend above the adjacent sides 23 and 24 ofthe leg as indicated at 27 and 28. Angle connections, each comprising avertical leg 29 and a horizontal leg 30, are disposed, one at the upperedge of each of the sides 23 and 24. The vertical legs 29 arepermanently attached to their respective sides 23 and 24 and thehorizontal legs extend laterally beyond said sides 23 and 24.

When the table legs are attached to the frame the legs 30 of the angleconnections come underneath the flanges 4-and 8, previously described,and suitable connecting bolts 31 are used the same passing through thelegs 30, said the sset plates 14, this being fully shown lgs. 3, 4, 5and 6. In addition the extensions 27 and 28 to the sides 25 and 26 ofthe table supporting legs, at their upper ends come inside of the arms-5 of the corner connecting brackets of the table frame. Screws 32 areusedwhich pass through said extensions 27 and 28 and through openings inthe arms of said brackets. In the same way One long drawer could beflanges 4 and 8 and through screws 33 pass through the ends 19 providedon the horizontal angle bar having legs 17 and 18 through the part 9andthe lip l on the rear side of the table frame.

The screws 32 and 33 thread through suitable openings made in the websof horizontal channels which lie at each side and end of the table framenear the upper edges thereof, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Thesechannels include a vertical web 34 and upper and lower outwardlyextending spaced apart flanges 35 and 36. Said channels extend entirelyaround the frame of the table and are connected at the time said legsare bolted and otherwise attached in place by means of the bolts 31 andscrews 32 and 33.

Over the frame thus connected together and supported by vertical legs ateach corner, the top is placed. In practice the channels having the webs34 and flanges 35 and 36 are laid in the sides and ends of the topstructure before application is made to the frame of the table so t atthe attachment of the channels at the same time secures the top in lace.

The top structure includes a at upper plate 37 of sheet metal which atits side and end edges is turned back on itself making the bendindicated at 38. After being turned inward a short distance a reversebend or U- shaped loop, indicated at 39, is made in an outward directionand the metal is then extended downwardly making a vertical sect-ion 40,terminating in an inturned flan e 41. The distance between the flange 41and th e under side of the second bend or loop 39 is suflicient that theflanges 35 and 36 of the side and end channels previously described maypass free- 1y therein yet make a fairly snug fit. The loop at 39 whichis of U-shape receives a horizontal section 42 of a metal border stripwhich is completed by an upwardly and inwardly inclined inte ral section43, making securing flanges whic bear a ainst the edges of a sheet oflinoleum 44 p aced upon the metal plate 37. This particudar structure ofto for a desk or table is not new in this application, being fullyshown, described and claimed in my prior'application, Serial Number121,769, filed Jul 12, 1926.

The construction escribed is very practical and is easily formed andassembled so far as the parts need assembly at a factory, by means ofsuitable tools and dies. The ship ment of the table ma be made inknock-down form with the table supporting legs, the gusset plates 14 andthe top structure detached. When the destination is reached and assemblyis to be made it is necessary merely to fit the parts together and usethe securing bolts 31 and screws 32 and 33, it being evident that theassembly of the table is with it turned upside down on a floor so thatthe bolts and screws may be readily put in place and tightened' Theinvention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure comin within their scope.

claim: 1. In a device of the class described a rectangula 1' frame ofsheet metal, detachable legs of sheet metal located at the corners ofthe.frame,top securing bars located around the .a top located over theframe, bars having interlocking connection with the sides and ends ofthe top, said bars being located horizontally against the sides and endsof said frame and screws passing through the legs and frame into saidbars to detachably connect the legs and said bars to the frame and atthe same time secure the top to said frame.

3. A table construction comprising sides and ends each formed from aplate of sheet metal, and each comprising a vertical section, a flangeextending inwardly horizontally from the lower edge of said verticalsection, a short horizontal ledge extending outwardly from the upperedge of the vertical section and a vertical lip extending upwardly fromthe outer edge of said ledge, gusset plates of right angle triangularform located at the corners of the frame over adjacent ends of thehorizontal flanges on said sides and ends of the frame, corner bracketseach having two arms located at right angles to each other located atthe corners of the frame above said gusset plates, the ends of the armshaving attachment to the vertical lips on adjacent sides and ends ofsaid frame, sheet metal legs located at the corners of the frame each ofsaid legs having spaced apart sides and two of the adjacent sides of thelegs ex tending above the other two sides thereof, said extensions attheir upper ends passing inside of said corner brackets, and the gussetplates passing over the upper edges of the shorter sides of said legs,brackets attached to the upper portions of said shorter sides, means fordetachably connecting said brackets horizontal flanges and gusset platestogether. horizontal channel bars located one at the outer side of theflanges and screws pass ing through the extensions at the upper ends ofsaid legs and through said brackets and threading through the Webs ofthe channel bars.

4. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 3, combined with a top located over the frame and having dependinginwardly turned channels at its sides and ends in which the firstmentioned channels are received, whereby the top is secured to theframe.

5. In a construction of the class described, a frame having rear sideand ends of sheet metal and a front 'side comprising spaced apart upperand lower metal bars, said lower bars at their front side and said rearside arid ends of the frameeach having a horizontal in wardly extendingflange, all the flanges lying in. the same horizontal plane, cornerbrackets connecting the rear side and ends of the frame and said ends ofthe frame and the upper bar ofthe front side of the frame, gusset plateslying over said horizontal flanges at the corners of the frame, legsdetachably secured at the corners of the frame to said flanges andgusset plates and to said corner brackets, top securing bars locatedalongside each side and end of the frame in;

substantially the same horizontal plane with the corner brackets, saidbars being secured to the frame by the same means which connects thelegs and corner brackets together and a top located over the frame andprovided at its sides and ends, with depending channels having inwardlyextending flanges, said horizontal bars being seated in said channelsbetween the flanges thereof.

6. A table comprising, a frame having spaced apart vertical sides andends of sheet metal, each of said sides and ends having an inwardlyextending horizontal flange at its lower edge, said vertical sides andends being cut away at the respective corners of the frame, legs ofsheet metal for each corner of the frame, each leg being substantiallysquare in cross section and having two short adjacent sides and two longadjacent sides extended above the said short sides, the top edges ofsaid short sides lying under said frame flanges and the upper extensionsof said long sides closing the corners of the frame at said cut awayportions thereof and means for attaching the legs to the frame.

7. A table comprising, a sheet metal frame having spaced apart verticalsides and ends, each being cut away at the respective corners of theframe, an inturned flange at the lower edge of each side and end of theframe, a right angle bracket near the upper. edge of each corner of theframe, sheet metal legs for each corner of the frame, said legs beingsubstantially square in cross section and having two short adjacentsides and two long adjacent sides extending above the short sides, theupper edges of' said short sides lying against the .under sides of saidflanges and the upper extensions of the long sides closing the con nersof the frame at the cut away portions thereof and means for connectingthe upper edges of the long sides to said brackets and the edges of theshort sides to said flanges.

8. A table comprising, a rectangular frame, a top therefor havingdepending members outside of said frame, said depending members beingformed with inwardly opening channels, top securing bars detachablylocated in said channels and screws to attach said top securing bars tosaid frame.

9. A table comprising, a rectangular frame,

detachable legs at each corner thereof, a table to having dependingmembers outside of said rame, top securing bars having detachableinterlocking engagement with said depending to members and screws toattach said legs, rame and top securing bars together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PETER M. WEGE.

